In this painting I wanted to represent a “Mystery server” with Anaísa “in the head”, another way of saying possessed . The yellow is this Mystery’s favorite color because having a “yellow heart” is being representative of Saint Ana, whom Anaísa represents. Anaísa is a happy, restless being, who uses a handkerchief that moves graciously when she is embodied in the “metreza” or medium. She is a flirtatious but dangerous spirit, for which she also represents the strenght within the “servers of Mysteries” who despite the physical fragility, they take on the task of serving which places them in a supernatural and therefore superior state.

“Misteriosa” represents the momento when a Servidora “feels” the presence of the Archangel Saint Michael: the trance or transformation of conscience without any regard to the physical body. The person who functions as a Servidora of Mysteries is always assisted by other women who accompany her during the whole possession and trance process, as well the returning of the self once the being has left the body.

Represents the purest and most beautiful “Metreza” of the 21 divisions and she identifies with the “Virgen de la Dolorosa” , whose colours are pink, white and light blue. She is very refined and when the Server of Mysteries is possessed by her its usually for a short period of time (5-15 minutes). Her “services” are used for love matters and even though she seems to be smiling during most of the possession, her initial trance emerges amid cries and apparent pain. She is delicate and when she is greeted by someone, she insists that the person washes his or her hands before getting in contact.

This is one of the most seeked out beings because of the female strength and dominance that it symbolizes. When she is brought upon, the Server of Mysteries moves and even drags herself like a snake. In the services for Saint Marta dominance and ties to a lover are seeked.

The popular religiosity comprimises the less fortunate to make offerings to ask for material and inmaterial things, and this artwork is about this act of petition to a prefered being. The magical religiosity is very interesting, mostly because of the power invested upon these Saints by the people, embodying Anaísa, Belié Belcán, among others. The act of petition is the exhaustive search of something that will complete the believer, and this person will do all kinds of sacrifices with the purpose of feeling satisfied, both him or her and the Being being called upon.

RelinquishWhen someone is having problems in some aspect of their life, whether at work, at school, love life, among others, believing in it or not in the popular religiosity or Dominican voodoo, it is decided to make ​​-for good measure a plunder which is "off evil " and that is why it is decided to find a “server or servant of mysteries” that works with some luá Dominican voodoo pantheon. For an indicated sum by the luá, she makes a dispossession that can vary: as can be with a bath of various herbs, may be with a "job " and also, as in this case, uses a “ahumero”, in which various herbs are burned, and are passed through the persons body, while telling what you want to discard, with prayers and warnings.

With Saint Miguel in the bodyIn september 29 a celebration is made with great devotion to Belié Belcán Ivá (San Miguel Arcangel) from the dominican vudú pantheon. The ceremony is characterized by the use of red and green colors used in decoration, candles, handkerchiefs and cloths. In this piece, two servants of mysteries are possessed or invoked by Belié Belcán, falling in the characteristic trance of this ritual and into the one that they get the San Miguel’s personality , which is said it is strict, accomplishment and miracle maker. It is also said that if one makes a promise to Belié Belcán, you must accomplish it, if not all plans made by him will be lost and days of (bad luck) misery will come.

Candle nightCandle nights are dominican Vudu rituals that conclude at night, this is the moment when the purpose of the ritual comes to light. Candle nights are made the night before to the catholic festivity of the saint in honor and gratefulness to the corresponding luá in the magical-religious ritual. The ritual consists of participants singing by rhythms of wood sticks, eating, drinking rum and coffee and smoking during 24 hours in honor to the saint or luá.

I mix the ritual and symbolic characteristic of the flowers in this painting, I use the image of the servant of mysteries with her role- serving as an assistant during the trance when she is possessed by the luá. This moment when she is possessed is magical, sublime, surprising and very well represented by the flowers that are born inside her in a “supernatural” way that invades her soul in a very mysterious manner.

The witch from the neighborhoodThe witch from the neighborhood is a servant of mysteries, characterized to come with "mysteries" of some field, but lives in the neighborhood, populous, where she is highly sought after and yet rejected by her practices. This person has special attributes and has been baptized in the name of a luá in this case San Santiago (Oqún Balenyó) this is why she has a blue dress. This luá is a warrior and identifies with this color.
The servant will be called "witch” and has the power to" see " the future, guess, read the cup, cards, among others.
These houses, are usually visited not only by those living in the surrounding district, in the days playing "consultation", it is scheduled for the serving of mysteries.